President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are scheduled to arrive in Texas to meet with grieving families, first responders, and local leaders following the devastating Fourth of July flash floods that claimed the lives of at least 120 people, including dozens of campers at Camp Mystic.
The visit includes a tour of the flood damage and a roundtable discussion with state and local officials scheduled for 2:10 p.m., which will be livestreamed. The White House is also providing real-time updates via a live blog.
The trip comes amid renewed scrutiny of Trump’s past remarks about FEMA. Both Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem have previously expressed a desire to eliminate the agency, which is now leading the federal response in Texas. While Noem has stood by her stance, she’s also said FEMA should be restructured rather than eliminated entirely. According to The Washington Post, there are currently no active plans to dismantle the agency, though White House officials have discussed rebranding it to increase the role of state leaders. One official told NewsNation that a FEMA review council is expected to propose reforms soon.
Observers are closely watching for any mention of FEMA during Trump’s visit, as the agency’s response plays a central role in the aftermath of the disaster.
Trump will be joined in Texas by a slate of Republican allies, including Governor Greg Abbott, Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, and Representative Pete Sessions. Abbott has publicly praised the administration’s handling of the crisis. Still, critics are watching for signs that the visit could become politicized.
One lingering question is whether previous cuts to disaster preparedness programs contributed to the scale of the catastrophe. Reports have surfaced that FEMA’s response in Texas may have been delayed due to a new rule requiring Secretary Noem’s approval on contracts or grants over $100,000. CNN reported that Urban Search and Rescue teams weren’t authorized to deploy until more than 72 hours after the floods hit.
Trump defended the administration’s actions in a call with NBC News’s Kristen Welker, insisting, “We were on time,” and pointing out that Noem “was literally the first person I saw on television” following the disaster.
Describing the storm, Trump said, “Nobody ever saw a thing like this coming,” and called the flood “a once-in-every-200-year deal.”
